Our student Jazmín Medina from the Bachelor's Degree in International Trade, won a Uni Scholarship and had the opportunity to make an international stay at the University of Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
Yes, as soon as I entered I knew about these programs, and the Uni sends you the announcements so that you are aware of them.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
Yes, in fact, that was one of the reasons I chose my career. Besides that, studying abroad was one of my college goals and I am glad to know that I achieved it.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
No, this was my first experience living and studying abroad.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
The experience and the great knowledge that you get from being in another country, because learning about new cultures would enrich me as a person to be more open-minded, and to know that there is more world out there for me not to conform. But the most important thing is to accomplish my goal that I had already set for myself and show me that whoever wants to can do it.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Because I wanted to get to know the customs of Spain, as well as take advantage of the opportunity to travel around Europe.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
Nerves and excitement, because it was my first trip all alone and I got lost haha but I learned not to worry because you will always meet good people who helped me.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
Very well, they let me know that I could count on their support if it was ever offered to me.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
To my family, boyfriend, friends and food. Without a doubt, there is no other food like the food in Mexico. And from Uni I missed my teachers and facilities, because if I have a problem I know where to go and who to go to.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
Getting to know new places and seeing how cultures can be so alike and so different at the same time.
And the hardest part?
That I had to return in the middle of my exchange because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Without a doubt, I do not recommend anyone to spend the fortieth away from their loved ones.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
Personally, to grow, mature and be independent, because I will make decisions on my own and I know that this will help me to be a better person in all areas, and as a professional to know the types of business that exist in different countries of the world and interact with international specialists and professionals will help me to be prepared when I practice in everyday life.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Yes, to all those who have the opportunity to live this experience abroad, do it and do not think twice.
Our student Glaf Jiménez of the Bachelor's Degree in Communication Sciences and Audiovisual Media, was the winner of a Uni semester scholarship to carry out her international stay at the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana in Medellín, Colombia.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs? Yes, that was one of the main factors that influenced my decision to study at Uni.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
I thought I would do well, but I never imagined I would be able to study abroad. I saw it as a distant dream.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
No, this was my first time.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
I was driven to learn about another culture, to broaden my knowledge and to test myself. My family was my biggest motivation.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
I thought it was an interesting country and the school had an excellent academic plan.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
I was excited and a little scared to get out of my comfort zone.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived? The reception was very nice, they were attentive to us at all times.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
I missed the food from Mexico and from UNI I missed the system they use to evaluate us.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience? The most exciting thing was to get to know and explore a city I didn't know. Not being afraid to ask questions.
And the hardest part?
The hardest part was being separated from my family and friends.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
I hope to continue expanding my knowledge and I want to continue adding achievements.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Of course, I recommend them 100% and I am very grateful for the opportunity.
Our student Loida Montes of the Bachelor's Degree in Communication Sciences and Audiovisual Media, thanks to the Uni Scholarships, had the opportunity to carry out an international stay at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
Yes, in fact this opportunity was one of the reasons why I chose the University of Celaya.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
It was one of my goals, but I didn't know whether or not I could actually get the scholarship.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
Yes, in 2017 I spent five months in the United States.
Whaté what prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
The openness and knowledge that I could acquire during my stay such as a new language and new ways of learning.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Because all my friends who had been here before had told me wonderful things about their stay in Brazil and how great PUCRS University was and they were definitely not wrong.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
I was happy but at the same time a little anxious to know what the semester would be like, a new adaptation, new friendships, challenges and classes in another language that although it is very similar to Spanish, it is not the same.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
Wonderful, I could not choose a better place to study and although because of the COVID we had to take the classes online, everyone at the University was very nice to us and organized many activities for our integration with all foreign students from many countries around the world, they gave us a tour of the city completely free, organized welcome cocktails and a lot of things that I could not write them all.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
Definitely my family and the food. As for UNI, I think what I miss the most is being able to attend all the activities it provides and use the gym for free since at PUCRS they charge for it separately.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
Just after we arrived, my university friend from PUCRS got free tickets for all exchange students to attend the classic Inter vs Gremio game and to visit a world cup stadium with more than 50 kids of all nationalities, it was one of the most incredible things I could experience here.
And the hardest part?
Everything derived from COVID. Everything was going great, I was taking my normal classes and we had only been there for a week when they told us that the classes would be suspended in person and that they would be taken online until further notice. The truth is that first they said it would only be until April 12 but to date we have not returned and most likely we will not do it, in a way I feel that I did not take advantage of it as it should be because of this whole situation but I do not believe in coincidences and if I am here is for something ... in fact, I have dedicated myself to document everything we have lived the exchange students during this quarantine and I hope to make it a good project in the future.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
I came back with new knowledge, above all I had the opportunity to learn a new language.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Yes, of course, even in spite of COVID, it is an experience I would not have changed and would do again if we could turn back time.
Nuestra alumna Greta Ruiz de la Lic. En Psicología Sistémica, tuvo la oportunidad de realizar una estancia internacional en la Universidad de Oviedo, Asturias, España.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
SI
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
Era parte de mi plan de vida y más específicamente de mi plan académico.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
NO
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
Enriquecer mi conocimiento cultural, abrir mi mente y conocer nuevas formas de estudiar, aprender y sobre todo nuevas culturas.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Por el plan de estudio en psicología y había facilidad de movilidad en la unión europea.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
Me sentí muy emocionada.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
Muy bien, tienen grupos de alumnos especiales para que los alumnos de intercambio conozcan la ciudad y la universidad.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
Extraño que se divide el semestre en parciales y que te evalúan también con proyectos y otros trabajos, y de México extraño mucho la comida, a mi familia, el calorcito y mi novio.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
Aprender de mi misma ha sido lo más interesante en ésta experiencia.
And the hardest part?
Aunque fue parte de aprender, me costó trabajo vivir sola y no estar cerca de mis papás.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
Auto-crecimiento a nivel profesional, implementar parte de las diferencias que he aprendido sobre en mi carrera y compartirlas.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Nuestra alumna Paola Ruiz de la Lic. en Psicología Sistémica, nos comparte su experiencia de intercambio internacional en la Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana Medellín, Colombia.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
Había escuchado de ellos, pero lo sabía en qué consistían.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
No lo creí, no imaginaba que mi carrera tenía la opción de realizar intercambios, además no estaba en mis planes hacerlo.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
No, es la primera vez.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
La experiencia personal como profesional que me traería consigo la experiencia, además de conocer otras personas, otra cultura y otro país.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Debido a mis recursos económicos, era el país que podía solventar.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
Estaba muy emocionada y feliz por comenzar el semestre, tenía muchas expectativas.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
¡Muy bien! tanto alumnos, profesores y otros miembros de la misma se portaron excelente, fueron muy amables, estuvieron al pendiente de mi estancia, resolvieron dudas y me ayudaron en lo que necesite.
What will you miss most about Mexico and UNI?
Lo que más extrañé de la Uni fueron mis profesores, amigos, los horarios de clases, la forma de trabajo y la forma de calificaciones ya que en la Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana se maneja muy diferente, de México lo que más extrañé fue la comida.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
Toda la experiencia ha sido muy buena desde las instalaciones de la universidad como sus múltiples actividades, así como la cultura del país en cuanto a lenguaje, gastronomía, clima y paisajes.
And the hardest part?
Lo más difícil fue entrar en contingencia por el coronavirus y estar en otro país, tener que terminar el semestre de forma virtual, no poder salir de casa ya que acá en Colombia hay muchas restricciones, no conocer más sobre el país.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this experience?
Considero que esta experiencia me ha hecho crecer tanto personalmente como profesionalmente, he aprendido muchas cosas sobre mi carrera, me ha hecho reflexionar, crecer como persona y como profesional, me ha enseñado a ver desde distintas formas las cosas.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Si, porque realmente son experiencias únicas que te marcan la vida a nivel profesional y personal, se aprenden muchas cosas en el proceso, se conocen muchas personas, y vivirlo como estudiante te abona a tu vida.
Antonio Alvarez, estudiante de Comunicación y Medios Audio Visuales, obtuvo la beca internacional Uni para estudiar un semestre en Guangdong University en China. Aquí nos cuenta su experiencia.
When you entered Uni did you know there were international programs?
No, después de entrar pude conocer muchos programas internacionales y becas que me animaron a querer ampliar mi conocimiento a nivel mundial.
When you entered your career, did you think you would go to live and study abroad?
No, a pesar de que vivir y estudiar en el extranjero siempre fue una meta para mí, no estaba en mis planes a corto plazo. Hasta que la universidad y mis compañeros que habían ido al extranjero o provenían de china, me incitaron a investigar más la cultura de los diferentes países y pude concretar el objetivo de esta gran aventura.
Have you ever lived or studied outside of Mexico before?
Había sido ganador de la beca manos por el mundo, donde pude aportar mis conocimientos sobre folclore y cultura mexicana a niños en Croacia durante un mes.
What prompted or motivated you to study in another country?
Llenarme de conocimiento y cultura, para buscar dar solución o mejora a áreas de mi entorno. Sinceramente, lo que para muchos es vivir en silencio y constante amenaza, por la situación delictiva o de violencia en mi estado, para mi es una área de oportunidad que solo los jóvenes podemos cambiar, y en el cambio de una mentalidad está un pequeño progreso. Tu eres la voz de tu país y como te vean y escuchen será la imagen que dejes y de ésta dependen factores como el turismo y parte de la economía de México. Conocer la cultura de un país no solo te lleva a ampliar un conocimiento, sino a reforzar los valores positivos que te hacen sentir orgulloso de ser perteneciente a un país reconocido principalmente por la alegría de su gente.
Why did you decide to study in that country?
Por mi mente siempre ocurría la misma pregunta una y otra vez: ¿Qué hubiera pasado con el territorio mexicano si no hubiese sido conquistado?. China es un claro ejemplo de una larga cadena de tradiciones que son, hasta el día de hoy cuidadas para ser conservadas, así que para resolver mi pregunta decidí viajar al país que me daba tantas dudas, solo para regresar con un sinfín de cuestionamientos pero también de ideas para recuperar algunas tradiciones de las culturas antiguas tradicionales, que hoy en día creemos olvidadas pero sin querer y casi instintivamente volvemos a repetir entre mezclas de culturas europeas y hasta asiáticas, ya sin saber su origen pero con mucho fervor. Haciendo de México ese país amable con el mundo y tan diverso en su cultura.
How did you feel when you arrived in the new country?
Se nos habló del shock cultural desde inicio de clases, pero no pude percibirlo inmediatamente, es claro que extrañas un poco la comida y el trato cálido característico del latino. Pero a cambio te llenas de olores antes desconocidos, te lanzas a la aventura sin pensarlo y te desprendes del inglés, que hasta ahora yo creía internacional pero no era usado en China, y te adentras en una escritura tan compleja que cada símbolo tiene un significado e historia y cada pronunciación cuatro acentos diferentes. En conclusión no pude estar más sorprendido y emocionado por todo lo que estaba viviendo.
How have you been received at the university where you arrived?
Un trato amable y siempre servicial, al inicio me sentí muy extraño porque todos me miraban y hasta me tomaban fotos o se tomaban fotos conmigo, pero luego me di cuenta de que en esa zona de China no son tan comunes los turistas así que era normal que sintieran curiosidad, cosa que al final me subió mucho el autoestima. El trato de los alumnos dentro de la escuela era muy bueno y me sorprendió la cantidad de personas que hablan muy bien español, hay que considerar quitarse la pena para hablar directamente ya que los estudiantes tienen un grado mayor de timidez que en México.
What will you miss most about Mexico?
Casi podría decir en su totalidad que no extrañarás México, porque al estar en otro país te vuelves un representante del mismo y todo el tiempo te preguntan cosas positivas de tu país, que terminan llenándote de entusiasmo. Si bien es cierto la comida es un detonante para extrañar México, también hay eventos como las fiestas de la embajada Mexicana, que te hacen regresar a tu casa, bailar unas cumbias y comer taquitos de pastor.
¿Y de la Uni en China?
De la universidad de China extrañare la facilidad que había para comer y sus horarios de siestas, algo que no quiero extrañar mucho, ya que me gustaría retomar para la cultura mexicana, es el método de aprendizaje y de enseñanza que se maneja en China, ya que todos los libros que compramos están escritos en forma de manual, y se retoman cosas del pasado para dar explicación a las acciones y comportamientos actuales, enseñándote cultura del país y métodos actuales que debes utilizar.
What is the most exciting thing you have experienced so far in this experience?
Entender cada vez más lo que muchos chinos dicen, estamos rodeados de amigos de muchos países pero me llena de emoción cuando veo el resultado de las clases ya que de repente y sin que me traduzcan logro deducir las charlas entre ellos y eso me motiva mucho.
And the hardest part?
Acostumbrar a mi cuerpo a cambiar su horario, desde que llegue a china, el horario ha sido un impedimento para aprender de manera apropiada ya que al paso de un mes, aún no puedo recuperar mi linea de sueño y la comida aun es algo difícil para mí.
What do you expect as a person and as a professional from this program?
No cabe duda de que mi objetivo durante el programa es tomar todos los conocimientos y aplicarlos en mi vida futura, me gusta pensar que mi futuro está definido por lo que voy aprendiendo de la vida y definitivamente, éste interés por la cultura China va a cambiar el rumbo de lo que busco.
A largo plazo me gustaría replicar el método de enseñanza de algunos libros que me ayudaron a entender la cultura china, pero para ayudar a entender la cultura mexicana. También pude entender dudas del chino para aprender español como el uso del subjuntivo y los diferentes métodos de aprendizaje del mismo (que a mi parecer tienen áreas de oportunidad).
En resumen me gustaría aplicar mis conocimientos para potenciar ambas culturas y animar a expandir la mentalidad de los jóvenes, para que sin dudarlo escojan una experiencia internacional.
Do you recommend these opportunities provided by Uni to your colleagues?
Totalmente. Es de reconocer que los programas internacionales que la UNI maneja, son efectivos y uno de los diferenciadores de otras universidades. He aprendido que la mejor forma de que veas de manera positiva y cercana un cambio en tu sociedad es conociendo el comportamiento de otras sociedades alrededor del mundo. Yo le diría a los jóvenes alumnos que no duden y atrévanse a ser líderes de cambio, a reunir esas características internacionales que hacen a una persona sobresaliente de las otras.
